Chapter 43 Wei Xichen, let me go!! ...

The sheer fabric was partially transparent, and two intertwined figures could be vaguely seen.

The sweltering summer heat shrouded the curtains, which were completely opaque. For the first time, Jiang Yinyue felt that Wei Qin's body temperature was no longer unusual.

Their thin clothes were soaked through with each other's sweat; it was hard to tell whose clothes were more damp.

In the midst of their entanglement, Jiang Yinyue's high bun fell loose and spread across the pillow, its satin-like texture still shimmering even in the dim light.

Soft and silky, thick and dense like algae, it made her face appear even whiter, with a hint of flush.

The intense heat from the lower back permeated the skin, burning like fire.

Jiang Yinyue twisted her waist, trying to avoid it, but her body was restrained by the sleeping man, and she couldn't move an inch.

"Wei Qin, you had a nightmare. What did you dream about?"

Jiang Xiaoniang stared blankly at the top of the tent, murmuring to herself. Suddenly, the man beside her moved closer to her neck, his chin resting on her collarbone.

In the dream, the roaring black dragon found a warm nest, lingered and rested, and warily watched the world full of undercurrents.

The chilling aura softened.

In another tent, a gentle night breeze stirred the jade hooks on the curtain.

The collision of jade pieces produces a clear and crisp sound.

Amidst the melodious sound of jade, Wei Xichen, also lost in a dream, was observing a scene of lingering snow and blooming flowers.

The man lying face down has an upright posture, with broad shoulders and a narrow waist. As he moves, the thin muscles on his back flow smoothly and beautifully.

He couldn't see the man's face, only Jiang Yinyue's glistening, beautiful face below.

A row of neat teeth marks on the lower lip is the result of endurance.

She was lifted up by the man, her neck resting on his arm, her long black hair hanging down to the side of the bed, revealing the center line of the bed curtains.

Her jet-black hair shimmered like the folds of seaweed swaying in water.

A melodious sound flowed from her lips, carrying the unique sweetness of her voice.

Unable to restrain himself any longer, Wei Xichen disregarded etiquette, crossed the bridge of fate, and parted the gauze curtain that separated him from the man and woman in the tent.

This shouldn't be happening; we shouldn't be so intimate.

Jiang Yinyue shouldn't be so intimate with others!

But the gauze curtain he tore open transformed into fine sand on the beach, slipping through his palm.

He couldn't grasp it tightly, couldn't hold on, and felt powerless to spread it, like facing a surging ocean, feeling his own insignificance and unable to conquer the waves.

The corners of my mouth tasted the wet saltiness of the sea.

Warm, moist, seeping into the gaps between teeth.

The person inside the tent opened their sleepy eyes, their gaze empty and vacant.

My eyes are dry; is someone crying in my dream?

How ridiculous.

A crown prince, on whom high hopes were placed and who should have been invincible, secretly wept in his dreams.

Unable to distinguish between reality and a dream, Wei Xichen suddenly sat up, wiped his eyes, but there were no tears.

The curtains tonight are scented with pear blossoms, and it is probably this familiar fragrance that has disturbed his peace of mind.

Ruyue's soft nightgown was damp with sweat, and the night breeze blowing through the window made it feel slightly cool.

He put on his brocade boots, bent his knees and sat on the edge of the bed, burying his face between his fingers.

A scream came from the woodshed in the inner courtyard of the inn. The sleepless man walked to the veranda outside and looked at a guard coming out of the woodshed in the corner of the courtyard, who was carrying a rat with bared teeth and claws in his hand.

Haven't you ever seen a mouse?

A lantern illuminated the small patch of night. Wei Xichen walked to the woodshed and dismissed the night watchmen who approached him.

He pushed open the door a crack and looked at Yan Zhuyi, who was huddled on a haystack, weeping bitterly.

If it weren't for the fragrant breeze, Yan Zhuyi wouldn't have looked up at the "guard" by the door.

However, the scent of ambergris was so strong that one could immediately recognize the visitor's identity.

Your Highness...

The disheveled and disheveled woman silently shed tears, looking utterly pitiful.

Wei Xichen did not enter the woodshed; he simply stared blankly at the prisoner who had lost everything after his lie was exposed.

This is the woman who stayed by his side in place of Jiang Yinyue.

Yan Zhuyi silently shed tears, making no attempt to hide her dejected and haggard appearance. Even when she was glamorous, she had never won his favor, let alone now.

"Does Your Highness wish to win back your beloved?"

The lantern flickered and throbbed, casting a ghostly reflection on the moon-white hem of her robe. Wei Xichen, who was about to turn around, froze, and the hem of her robe slowly drooped down.

This gave Yan Zhuyi the opportunity to continue the story.

"It's no use. No matter how I try to make amends, it's all in vain and cannot dispel Your Highness's prejudice."

Are you sure it's prejudice?

"I'm just using an inappropriate analogy, but Lady Jiang does have a prejudice against Your Highness."

In one sentence, he struck at Wei Xichen's old wounds that were difficult to heal.

No matter how much you try to make amends, it will be to no avail.

Jiang Yinyue was no longer disappointed in him, but rather indifferent.

"Why doesn't Your Highness change your mind? If you can't make amends, why not just seize it by force? It's just dealing with a poor scholar who hasn't yet gained power. Can't Your Highness defeat him? Jiang Song would be happy to see it happen. He's not exactly a righteous person. He's a fox who will change his tune depending on the wind. After all, he's loyal to the Crown Prince."

"What is the purpose of your saying all this?"

"What other purpose could I possibly have? I simply wish to make up for Your Highness's regret."

"Clever words and a flattering appearance."

The moonlight spread to Wei Xichen's tightly pressed lips, creating a play of light and shadow.

Wei Xichen tossed the lantern to the guard at the door and walked alone in the darkness.

**

Wei Qin opened his eyes when the neighbor's rooster crowed at dawn.

I slept soundly for the rest of the night without any dreams.

The warmth and softness in his arms were still there. He tightened his arms and pulled the sleeping Jiang Yinyue into his embrace, his strong arms encircling her waist.

The doors and windows were tightly shut, and the air was stuffy and sticky, yet no one wanted to open them even a little bit.

"Um......"

"It's okay, go to sleep."

He gently comforted the person in his arms as they showed signs of waking up.

Jiang Yinyue, who was pretending to be asleep, opened one eye and glanced at the man who was holding her.

Why are you still holding her so tightly after she wakes up?

She pretended to be restless in her sleep, kicking her legs and trying to escape the suffocatingly hot embrace, but Wei Qin clamped his knees even tighter.

"It's so hot."

Wei Qin buried himself in her long hair, inhaling the scent of pear blossoms, then slowly lifted one side of the curtain, hung it on a copper hook, got up and picked up the embroidered shoes that Jiang Yinyue had kicked off, neatly placed them on the footstool, and then pushed open the window, letting the night wind rush in.

Blowing away the sticky, fine sweat from my body.

Jiang Yinyue sat down on the edge of the bed, sweating profusely. Her small feet, still covered in silk stockings, were crooked and twisted, with one heel showing and the other twisted into a pretzel.

The stockings are a bit too big.

Wei Qin, who pays great attention to detail, walked back to the bedside, took off her silk stockings, and held them in one hand.

Jiang Yinyue pulled her foot back, covering it under her skirt. "What did you dream about?"

"A black dragon was trapped in a birdcage."

"Can a birdcage trap a dragon?"

"A tiger fallen into the plains is bullied by dogs."

Jiang Yinyue watched Wei Qin walk to the basin stand to fetch water and wash up, and then watched him take off his undergarment, revealing his strong upper body.

A damp cloth was used to wipe it, leaving watermarks, which dried quickly in the wind.

The man didn't stop; his hands were gripping the top edge of his shorts.

Jiang Yinyue dared not look any further and looked down at the hollow of her lower back. She took off her outer garment and folded it at the foot of the bed, then crawled into the quilt wearing only her undergarments and pulled the covers over her head.

When she noticed the movement by the bed, she peeked out from under the covers, gasped, and got up to press down on her neatly folded outer garment.

"Don't touch it. Have Dujuan take it away tomorrow morning."

Wei Qin stared at the woman who was lying on his clothes like a little frog, and stopped looking at the suspicious marks on the clothes. He took a clean handkerchief and wiped Jiang Yinyue's face.

Jiang Yinyue pressed her hands and feet against the clothes, lifting her face with Wei Qin's force. A cool, damp sensation traveled through the handkerchief to her cheeks, which felt very comfortable. She closed her eyes and enjoyed it until the coolness reached below her collarbone.

"Wei Qin".

Wei Qin didn't stop. He gripped the handkerchief and slipped it into the seam of her clothes, gently wiping her a few times.

The darkness concealed the blush on the woman's face, but it couldn't hide the burning heat.

Jiang Yinyue clutched her clothes and shrank into the corner of the bed, but Wei Qin grabbed her snowy feet.

She couldn't help but giggle as she felt a ticklish sensation on the soles of her feet.

"itch."

Wei Qin stopped and asked seriously, "Do you still want it wiped?"

"want......"

Jiang Yinyue responded without any backbone; she was so bored she was covered in sweat.

The beauties in the tent were like a painting, and the graceful branches and leaves outside were set against the backdrop of the lush and vibrant night scene.

Several wealthy salt merchants crept together in a house to discuss their escape plan.

"Yan Hongchang won't be able to hold out for more than a few days. He will inevitably confess everything about our bribery. The only way now is to sacrifice a pawn to save the king. We must risk our lives to get out of the city. As long as we survive, we can always rebuild!"

"Yes, that newly appointed transport commissioner is completely unyielding and is determined to wipe us out. If we don't leave now, when will we?"

"Hmph, I really want to fight him to the death! Without the evidence he provided, neither of us would be in this situation! I just can't understand how a lowly transport judge, under so many eyes, managed to obtain such irrefutable evidence!"

"We can't worry about that now. Within three days, we'll leave from the city gates in different groups and meet up in the mountain stream fifty miles to the southeast. We'll discuss whether to seek another way to survive or what. The most important thing right now is to get out of here as soon as possible before the authorities issue a warrant for our arrest."

The salt merchants, who had banded together for mutual support, reached an agreement and went their separate ways.

To their surprise, the first group passed through the city gate checkpoint with exceptional ease, while the other groups became restless.

From a three-story teahouse not far from a city gate, Wei Xichen held a sniper rifle and observed the scene at the city gate. He did not send troops to intercept them, nor did he make any move to alert them.

Prefect Lin Yu stood by, unable to fathom the Crown Prince's intentions.

Should we just stand by and let them escape?

"As long as Your Highness gives the order, I will immediately send men to wipe them out in one fell swoop."

"No need, leave this task to Wei Qin."

Not only Lin Yu, but even Fu Zhongcai was stunned. Wei Qin was still recovering from his injuries, and even if the wounds hadn't worsened and were beginning to heal, it wasn't advisable to pursue them.

Lin Yu was furious. What a great opportunity to make a contribution, and it just fell into Wei Qin's lap.

However, neither of them dared to question the Crown Prince's decision.

Wei Xichen lowered his hands, no longer observing the commotion over there. His amber eyes were tinged with the morning mist, losing their clarity.

On the day Wei Qin received the Crown Prince's order, a large number of yamen runners gathered in front of Wei's residence, ready to depart.

There was no time to politely decline.

Looking at her husband, who was being forced into this situation, Jiang Yinyue's face was as cold as ice.

It seemed like a lucrative position, but as the saying goes, don't pursue a cornered enemy. If pushed too far, they might gamble everything and perish together with their pursuers. Those wealthy salt merchants would all train some highly skilled servants.

Be very careful!

Before mounting his horse, Wei Qin gently stroked his wife's hair in the sunlight.

The frost has melted away.

The sound of horses' hooves gradually faded into the distance, and the once bustling alleyways returned to silence. The neighbors who had been peeking around retreated back into their homes, some with envy and others with jealousy.

During the day, Jiang Yinyue and Du Juan took Qi Bao to visit Han Jian.

As they passed that old-established rice wine shop, Qi Bao sniffed, suddenly broke free of her chain, darted into the shop, and started barking incessantly.

"Qibao!"

Jiang Yinyue chased into the shop, but Du Juan, who was following closely behind, was stopped.

"His Highness the Crown Prince is drinking here. All unauthorized persons shall leave!"

Du Juan said anxiously, "My second young mistress went in; we went in together!"

"Back off!"

Du Juan was frightened by the guard's warning and lingered outside the shop for a while, but Jiang Yinyue did not come out with Qi Bao.

The guards ignored Du Juan as she ran away and continued to stand guard at the door with expressionless faces.

Inside the dimly lit shop, Jiang Yinyue watched Qi Bao, who was lying on Wei Xichen's lap eating snacks. Her radiant face was even more stern than the guards outside the door.

"Qibao, let's go."

"Awoo awoo".

Wei Xichen gently rubbed Qi Bao's head and slowly sipped the yellow wine beside him.

Jiang Yinyue sneered. Using Qi Bao's favorite snack as bait was nothing more than a way of saying she had changed her mind and wanted to take Qi Bao back.

No way!

"Where is His Highness's new favorite, Little Tabby?"

Qi Bao is not one to hold grudges, but she is not.

"At the post station."

Wei Xichen spoke with a hint of drunkenness.

Jiang Yinyue retorted, "Is it appropriate for Your Highness to be so carefree while your subject is wounded and chasing after a suspect?"

“Wei Qin is physically weak and could refuse this job.” Wei Xichen leaned against the wall, looking up with a slightly drunken and languid air. “He didn’t.”

"Can you refuse?"

He refused the position of Salt Commissioner decisively.

"How can you be competent when your life is in danger?"

"The officialdom is fraught with risks. If you are unwilling to take risks, you may as well retire."

Jiang Yinyue was too lazy to listen to his sophistry, and even less willing to argue with a drunkard. She took two steps forward, grabbed Qi Bao's front paws, and pretended to pull it down from Wei Xichen's legs.

When she got closer, the unique aroma of ambergris and rice wine made her feel physically and mentally repulsed.

Qi Bao whimpered pitifully, then lay down at Wei Xichen's feet, wagging her big tail.

Jiang Yinyue pointed at it, unable to bear blaming it but having to threaten it, saying, "If you don't leave, I will."

Qi Bao immediately stood up, grinning in agreement, but as soon as she felt her mother soften, she immediately lay back down.

Wei Xichen looked at Jiang Yinyue's profile; it had been a long time since he had observed her so closely.

A full forehead, a pert nose, bright eyes, snow-white skin, delicate ears, and graceful...

His actions outpaced his thoughts; he suddenly grabbed her forearm. "Niannian."

Jiang Yinyue immediately shook him off, straightened up, and coldly glared at the man with dazed eyes.

Wei Xichen leaned against the old wall of the wine shop, tilting his face slightly upward. He did not resist her unfriendly attitude. He reached out and forcefully grabbed her forearm, pulling her into his arms despite her attempts to shake and push him away.

"Nian Nian".

"Let me go!"

Wei Xichen remained seated, his large hand gripping Jiang Yinyue's unbalanced body, preventing her from getting up.

The small, dark, and cramped tavern was deserted, with no sign of the owners, the front and back courtyards filled with hidden guards.

Jiang Yinyue poked the man's chest with her elbow and struggled fiercely, "Wei Xichen, you're not drunk!"

A sharp pain shot through his old chest wound, but Wei Xichen endured the discomfort and pressed down on Jiang Yinyue's back.

The chair legs made a scraping sound.

"Woof!" Qi Bao bit Wei Xi Chen's clothes and pulled hard, its tail no longer wagging.

Wei Xichen stood up, trapping Jiang Yinyue between himself and the table. "Niannian, come back to my side, hmm?"

restart.

The wine jars and utensils fell to the ground, and amidst the clanging and shattering sounds, a clear and loud slap echoed.

"Smack!"

The blow landed squarely on the crown prince's handsome face.

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Author's note: 100 small red envelopes [heart emoji]